London Fashion Weekend

Sex and the City 2 Trailer: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5WWSf3DzstY

“ And we were dressed from head to toe in love... the only label that never goes out of style.”

– Carrie Bradshaw (Sex and the City)

Rachel and I were dressed head to toe in love… for Fashion

            There are certain rites of passage in a girl’s life, one of which is London Fashion Weekend. As I write this I cannot help but hear the voice of Carrie Bradshaw in my head and know that yesterday, I felt like it should feel when you go shopping. The champagne, the cocktails, the bursts of hot pink everywhere (even pink balloons and boys in teal ties and black top hats to contrast). London Fashion Weekend does what it’s supposed to do. It makes a girl feel like a princess.

            The outfit you wear to London Fashion Weekend it supposed to make you feel like a million bucks, but look like you put “no effort” into it. Granted the fashion in London is quite different than anywhere else. Friends have commented that even the young girls here are fashion-forward and have outfits right off the runway, and I find it just fabulous. I cannot wait to dress my children the exact same way.

            But whether it is right off the runway or a steal of a deal, London is known for its fantastic finds. Clothes come out from the high-end designers to the small hidden discount boutiques and markets. They can all look the same price and even if it doesn’t, you have edge. Being a fashion capitol more than Los Angeles, and having never lived in New York, I feel at home in London.

            I will splurge, at least in my sense of “splurging”, on that one piece for a birthday or a big event, but in all reality I am never going to be able to tell whether your outfit is designer or not. I do not spend my time studying look books, but I do browse my occasional fashion blog and hit up the Cooper Building when work insists upon it. And being in the industry, you cannot help but fall face first in a red carpet store opening where they shower you with champagne, cocktails with floating rose petals, and Samantha Ronson as your dj. The celebrities abound and all the flashes from the camera, as the paparazzi mistake you for a celebrity, blind you from the real world for a bit. Who doesn’t love the glitz and glam of Hollywood?

            So this weekend I treated myself to London Fashion Weekend where upon arrival I saw an African American woman, tall and poised at the entrance, complete with a trendy hat, colorful scarf, all fur jacket, creased trousers, and neon pumps waiting for a friend at the entrance. I smiled and wish I was her on the inside, but alas my fashion sense is much more mainstream and I do like it that way. As we made our way to the Strand to collect our tickets we got all three (catwalk, showbag, and entrance) into our hands and couldn’t help but stop, realize what was happening, and simply beam.

            If you’ve ever been to the Somerset house, and you should if you haven’t, you know that it consists of three wings such that it is almost a U-shape with an open courtyard in the middle. Your first view of the event is the outside wall of a building, which they constructed especially for the event, with the cliché raised lowered sunglasses stare. If you don’t know what I’m talking about you have no sass-itude.

            In this building they house some designer shopping of accessories, the catwalk, the Elizabeth & Arden Beauty Studio, the Toni & Guy Blow Out Bar, the Chambord (my favorite) Bar, and the Lavazza Coffee Bar. Walking around the perimeter my friend Rachel and I went from booth to booth looking at perfume, jewelry, hats, and sunglasses. Rachel went wild over the boys in teal ties and black top hats at the Juicy Couture perfume booth and I must tell you, both with baby blue eyes looked stunning with ties to match.

We saw jewelry, my favorite of which was a blue stone teardrop that hung from a silver “question-mark” shaped piece that wound around your neck and encased purple crystals inside. Only 143 pounds…

There were rings to die for that played off the 2007 trend of wire rings where the wire held the stones to the actual ring. These included stone red roses and what looked like baby pearls onto a silver ring with gold wire. Again, only 54 pounds which is $86 in the US, too much for a ring I am going to loose even if it is the epitome of me in a ring.

With birthdays on the mind, we looked at hats for Rachel’s birthday at the Ascot races. Only 30 pounds, reasonable and worth it, we found hats that are being sold to Urban Outfitters which consist of just the rim of a sunhat and a comb that sits atop the back of your head. Imagine just wearing a brim of a hat and not getting hat hair. How fashionable!

And lastly, worth mentioning were the sunglasses. Of course popular culture has had its influence on the fashion industry, more than most people know, and there were sunglasses that looked like lady-gaga but who anyone else would see as the face of a football helmet (because that is exactly what it looked like).

And of course, because fashion requires a more fit physique they had a Chambord bar. Being introduced to Chambord at the HBO Luxury Lounge at the Four Seasons in Beverly Hills in Los Angeles, I have learned to love this alcohol. 40% alcohol, this low calorie alcohol has a light, crisp taste and made of hibiscus can be paired with a simple sparkling water and raspberries and you are good to go. A light, waist-friendly, equally as alcoholic cocktail made for the stars. And it comes in a bottle that looks like perfume.

            Making our way into the actual Somerset house, where all the designer clothes sat waiting, we had no idea what to expect. Having looked a little at some of the clothing online and the overwhelming list of designers we threw ourselves into the masses. There were tables of shoes and by tables I mean a banquet sized table used in the olden days for feeding parties of thirty. The colors and styles were funky and as the saying goes “fresh.” The clothes, not all surprisingly looking their prices (well I guess that isn’t surprising), sat in rooms specific to one or two designers. Some design spaces, the most notable, consisted of: Dolce and Gabbana, Vivienne Westwood, Marc by Marc Jacobs, Moschino, See by Chloe, and Celine. I can now say I’ve held a 2,700 pound dress in my hands, and that was the marked down price. It was amongst these rooms that I walked in and was struck by a dress that made my jaw drop. As I’ve said it before, there are pieces that are essentially “me” in an object. This dress, my new 21^st birthday dress, was exactly that. Trying it on a size bigger than I would’ve liked, it still fit. Whether this is a comment on my current eating habits, lack of exercise, and fact I’ve had strep throat for two plus weeks, it fit. I’m not going to complain, even though I probably should, because that dress is going to be rocked March 24^th, 2010. And of course, no details will be shared (unless you were with me that day when I couldn’t stop showing it on my camera).

            After making it to floor two of four levels of designer clothing, I know you wish you were there, I found a steal of a deal (exactly what I’d been looking for). There was a ten pound box and a twenty pound box of last year’s designer clothing. Of course I found a tank top and without trying it on decided to buy it. It is a backless patterned tank with beaded shoulders, you would’ve done the same, and especially for that price.  I’ve got so into talking about clothes I forget to mention the champagne bar, nail bar, screening room, etc. (who really cares).

            To end the day, which I wish was longer and could last forever, we made it to the catwalk, but only after stopping at the Chambord bar to grab a glass of Prosecco (my new favorite white wine, but in all honestly it’s more of a “bubbles” or “sparkling”). Not being allowed in with our drinks, we decided not to rush the crisp, refreshing drink (like we would college style) and decided to enjoy it and soak in the atmosphere. Who knows when we’ll be at another London Fashion Weekend, although realistically it will probably be just a few years until this is hopefully normal and the real London invite-only Fashion Week.

            Finally making our way to the catwalk, we got to feast our eyes on the fashion. We sat in the sixth row of this red-light lit runway which soon turned to a blinding white once the catwalk started.

            First up was a collection of designers that made up “Swan Vesta”, a collection inspired by the Hollywood movie Black Swan. This collection was most definitely my favorite with its use of lace, sheer material, and ruffles. It had the delicate touch of a ballerina combined with a bit of edge, rocker chic. Easily able to go from a tea party to a night out. And by night out, I mean a special night of glam. And the stylist started the show off with a bang, the best piece all night: Pink Lobster Devore Dress by William Tempest. This mini, light pink dress had body and shape to it as its structure was held up to reveal a cream colored dress beneath it. The model had a large pink bow to compliment her updo and the whole piece came together fabulously (yes, Kimora Lee Simmons has caused me to over-use the word “fabulous” with her “fabulousity”)

            The next collection was Bora Aksu’s Spring Summer 2011 Collection. Definitely a lot edgier, but still trending with its use of lace, ruffles, thin material, possibly some chiffon and silk, used a lot of bold reds and blacks. This clothing would definite be more nightwear for a cocktail party or “posh” event. 

            “Lady Brights”, almost Betsy Johnson-esque (love BJ), had a strong use of (you guessed it) brights as far as bolds and neons. The neon heels and pumps in this collection were probably my favorite, and much more impressive than the actual clothing itself. It just so happened some of the shoes were by Vivienne Westwood for Melissa.  There were twelve designers in this collection as well as in the “Swan Vesta” collection. Now I know, I twelve designers collections who aren’t as “me” which is important to learn to narrow down the thousands of designers out there.

            And lastly was the Mark Fast Spring Summer 2011 Collection which, just as the host said, blew the audience away. Complete with tassels and jewel embellishments this collection had a city-cowgirl feel that could be taken to a beach resort or a night on the town. Definitely a fun collection with a lot of spunk and pizzazz. 

            Other commentary on seeing my first catwalk is that the music is just as invigorating as you think it will be. The models walk a lot faster than you think, and from our angle you could see them run to the back for a dress change once they turned the corner. The shoes look more uncomfortable on the runway than they do in the stores. The models’ posture and walk are more different than you expect. Why do they wear visible thongs if they don’t wear bras? And lastly, why do you put the thinnest model in the longest, most revealing clothing. Length is meant to slim and elongate the body and you are must making the audience feel pain for how emaciated she looks.

            On a less critical note, this was a dream come true and I am so glad to have had this experience and to have shared it. I was willing to go to London Fashion Weekend by myself when I bought the ticket, but being with someone and acting like “total girls” as we drink and find our way through the fashion is much more fun. It was like a normal shopping day, but we were better dressed, better groomed, more prepared, willing to spend more, had a drink in hand, had better music bumping, were surrounded by other people who knew/love fashion, and were just in an all around better atmosphere, better mood, and better place. 

2011 European Travel Itinerary

So for those of you who would like to join the adventure or who simply want to follow. Here is how I plan to do all 27 countries (still as promised).

2011 EUROPEAN TRAVELS

1.    UK: live here

2.    Madrid, Spain: Feb. 3 – 6 for 50 pounds with Emily and Rachel

3.    Liverpool: Feb. 11 – 13 with USC (paid for)

4.    Malta: Feb. 15 – 19 for 100 pounds with Rachel

5.    Denmark: March 2 – 6 for 52 pounds with Morgan and Brittany

6.    Paris, France: March 10 – 13 for 57 pounds to visit Jake and Jasmine

7.    Dublin, Ireland: March 15 – 20 for 50 pounds with Jake, Sarah, Morgan, Rachel, Jenny, Jenny, Kyun, Ryan, Courtney, Becca, Logan, Kelly, Steph

8.    BOOK EUROTRIP (countries not set): March 28 – April 27 with Morgan and Sarah

a.    March 28 – 30: Stockholm, Sweden (by plane)

b.    March 30 – April 1: Helsinki, Finland (by ferry)

c.     April 1: Talinn, Estonia (by ferry)

d.    April 2: Riga, Latvia (by train – overnight)

e.    April 3 – 4: Vilnius, Lithuania (by bus)

f.      April 5 – 6: Warsaw, Poland (by bus – overnight)

g.    April 7 – 8: Brussels, Belgium (by plane)

h.    April 8: Luxembourg

i.      April 9 – 10: Berlin. Germany

j.      April 11-12: Munich, Germany (by train – overnight)

k.     April 13: Disney Castle

l.      April 14 - 15: Vienna, Austria (by train – overnight)

m.  April 16 – 17: Prague, Czech Republic (by train – overnight)

n.    April 18 – 19: Slovakia (early morning train)

o.    April 19 - 20: Budapest, Hungary (early morning train)

p.    April 21 – 22: Bucharest, Romania

q.    April 23: Ptuj, Slovenia & Sofia, Bulgaria  

r.      April 24: Thessaloniki, Greece

s.    April 25: Athens, Greece

t.      April 26: Cyprus (ferry

u.    April 27: Athens, Greece

v.     April 27 or 28: Flight home to London

9.    BOOK Portugal (Lisbon): May 2 – 7 for 60 pounds on Easy Jet ßDEPENDS ON EXAMS

10. Exams: May 3 – June 17

11.  BOOK Barcelona (Spain): May 19 – 23 with Thiago for Formula 1

12. Parents arrive June 17^th in London to travel

13. June 20 - ?: Italy with Family

14. ? – July 7: Netherlands with family 

Blog 4: Malta and Gozo, Malta

 You should know before reading this blog that if you aren’t prepared to spontaneously buy a plane ticket, you probably shouldn’t keep reading…

"Inhobbok Nanna"

Gozo, Malta

            Malta is by far the most beautiful, most culturally diverse, unique place I have ever visited. Being fortunate enough to spend four days in Malta, thanks to UCL’s “Reading Week” where no one actually reads, I was able to see some sights and really talk to the Maltese people about their country.  Malta has been at one time attack, invaded, or ruled by almost every country. You see knights everywhere because there were twenty-five knights from eight countries (eight points on the cross, one for each country) who protected Malta. Most recently, the Turks tried to invade Malta, but luckily Turkey is so far away that resources ran out leading to an inevitable retreat.

            That leads me to another point which is, for those of you who don’t know, Malta is in the Mediterranean Ocean just 93 km south of Sicily.  It has three main regions, from the north to the south: Gozo, Comino, and Malta, and only 400,000 people live in the main region of Malta. Many villages make up Malta and due to a Maltese law no building built before a certain year could be destroyed. Therefore, all the limestone buildings have the same structure with which they were originally built and even in the fields of grass one can see the rubble and left over structures of once standing buildings. Even along the seaside rode from Valletta, the capital, to St. Julian’s, the younger party area where we were staying, there are crumbling buildings. But beauty can be seen in the age of the shattered windows and discolored buildings.  Even in Gozo this is seen, and the farther from the center, the newer and more modern the buildings, but still holding the same architectural design.  All this limestone comes from the land in Malta itself, and we were lucky enough to stumble across one of the mines. 

Mosta Church

            Lastly, Malta is Catholic with 365 churches on its island, one for every year is the way to remember it. And although our personal driver, Antonella Grech Borg, told us that only 5% actually go to church, they still stand beautifully erected around the city.  The most famous one that is dome shaped and called Mosta Church. This church had an atomic bomb fall through its roof but the bomb never went off. To repair the dome 800 eggs were sold to pay for its reconstruction, an effort the city came together to do.

            Waking up at 3:00 am Rachel King and I went from the bus stop on Gower St. to meet our second bus at Marble Arch that would take us all the way out of London to Luton airport where we’d catch our flight to Malta. Surprisingly, we were both awake and energetic, especially upon our arrival to Malta where we were once again, because we were outside of London, greeted with sun!

City Gates of Valletta

            Riding the bus from the airport towards our hotel, we quickly learned that all buses end in Valletta (pronounced “Valetta), the capital of Malta. I quickly made the mistake of saying “Vallarta” as in “Puerto Vallarta” and looked like a complete foreigner. Luckily I can say that although as foreign as ever, I did not get pick pocketed this trip. Getting off our bus we decided to explore Valletta, not knowing it was the capital as we basically did not know anything about Malta. As we walked through the city gates we were greeted by a good amount of people strolling through the streets lined with what seemed like Christmas decorations. We continued through the streets and decided to follow the signs to some landmarks including: St. John’s Co-Cathedral, Grandmaster’s Palace, and the most Bibliotheca I’ve ever seen. After walking to the water we decided to lunch in the Plaza affront the Bibliotheca before hopping on another bus to go to our guesthouse The Highlander in Paceville (pronounced “Pachville”).

            A friend we had made on the bus had instructed us to walk along the waterfront so once settled in we decided to walk from St. Julian’s towards Sliema, the shopping area between St. Julian’s and the more southern city of Valletta. This is where Malta’s resemblance to, what I’ve seen in the movies, Italy seemed to meet our eye. The island has many coves in which the very boldly colored boats are docked all along the water. We stopped all along the way for photo-ops and to sit and to sit and enjoy our surroundings. It just so happened that on our walk through the pretty quiet streets the sun started to set, reflecting magnificently off the water.  Also to note, we saw some grand, what seemed to be out-of-place towers that we later learned from our tour were used to spot pirates.  (Even the streets in some areas are windy for the people to “run away from pirates” in)

Lisa, George, and Rachel

Peppino's

            Having walked a fair distance we decided to ride back into Paceville on the bus that cost only 47 cents, how amazing is that. Freshened up we met another American George Elkin, who too had been in London but now interns at the Intercontinental hotel in Malta, for drinks and dinner. It just so happened one of his coworkers had suggested the restaurant I saw on the Intercontinental website’s video: Peppino’s. This very rustic Italian style restaurant has been frequented by celebrities such as Madonna, Brad Pitt, Orlando Bloom, Mathew McConneghy, Jacquin Phoenix, and Daniel Craig. Sinking my mouth into what I can happily say is the best pasta I have ever had, I knew I had found heaven. I wish I could recommend the pasta I ordered but all I remember was it had Peppino’s in the name for anyone returning. And make sure to ask for Caroline as your server, the coworker’s girlfriend, and go to the top floor’s balcony as it’ll take your breath away.

            Having had drinks at the Intercontinental and wine at diner, we decided to try out our first night in Paceville and boy was it a night. Whether it be that Malta is small and tourists outnumber locals, that those who go out in Malta are all tourists, or that Malta is actually this diverse, none of the people who we met when we went out were Maltese. I am more than happy with the ethnically diverse people I met, don’t get me wrong, and hope to keep in touch with them.  Every night out we went to a place called Hugo’s Passion and would run into a band of Spaniards and my Italian friend Cristiano Naldini. And my first night I also met a Swiss futbol team and made a friend from China. We seemed to be the life of the party this night and especially the following days when people would recognize us during the daytime.

            After our first night out we decided to sleep in to prevent ourselves from wearing down our immune systems like in Madrid. Well rested and in the early afternoon we decided to hop onto a tour bus to see Northern Malta.  As I am getting tired of writing I will simply list the stops as stated in our tour:

• 1.     Sliema – Sliema is Malta’s main coastal resort. It is a center for shopping, restaurants, and café life. Sliema is also a major commercial and residential area and houses several of Malta’s most recent hotels. The coastline promenade, which runs for several kilometers from St. Julian’s to Gzira and Ta’Xbiex, is ideal for walkers and joggers.
• 2.     Manoel Island – A small island fortified by Grandmaster Manoel de Vilhena, who also built the theater in Valleta. The architect of this project was Frenchman Francois de Mondion, who was also the architect of Louis XIV. The island is now being conserved and converted into an exclusive residential area.
• 3.     Ta’Xbiex Harbour – The area is studded with beautiful villas many of which have now been transformed into embassies
• 4.     Msida Yacht Marina – A magnificent yacht marina with first class berthing facilities
• 5.     Valletta – City Gate is outside Malta’s capital city which was built by the Knights of the Order of St. John in 1568 and transformed over the years into the finest example of baroque. The City is studded with historical palaces, museums, churches, gardens, cafes restaurants, and shops.
• 6.     Hamrun and Sta Venera
• 7.     San Anton Garden – probably the best known of the island’s gardens. San Anton Garden was laid out by Grandmaster Antoine de Paule (1623-1636) as grounds for his summer residence. The garden is a botanical delight with mature trees, old stone urns, fontanels, pounds, and formal flower beds
• 8.     Mdina Glass – You may visit Mdina Glass which is a unique company in Malta, specializing in glass blowing, glass fusion, and lamp work
• 9.     Ta’Qali Crafts Village and Aviation Museum – The former WWII military aerodrome was converted into a hand-crafts center. Here one can buy something completely unique to take home. Beyond the Crafts Village is the Aviation Museum displaying aircrafts.  The Museum is situation in a former RAF station and among the artefacts are a rebuilt Spitfire Mk IX and a Hawker Huricane Ila.
• 10. Mosta – Mosta lies in the heart of Malta. It is the busy market town. At its center is a magnificent dome church (1860), The Mosta Retunda is the third largest unsupported church done in Europe.  In WWII, the church took a direct hit from a German bomb that pierced the dome, but failed to explode. Other Mosta attractions include the Victoria Lines, the WWII shelters, the cave chapel of St. Paul the Hermit in a picturesque valley, and the Chapel of Our Lady of Hope. In its limits there are also prehistoric remains such as catacombs under Fort Mosta and Bronze Age dolmens. 
• 11. Mdina – Mdina is the old capital of Malta and its origins may be traced back to 1500 BC. Mdina has had different names and titles depending on its ruler and its role but its medieval name describes it best – “Citta’ Nobile”: the noble city. Impressive palaces line its narrow, shady streets, Mdina is  one of Europe’s finest examples of an ancient walled city and extraordinary in its mix of Medieval and Baroque architecture.
• 12. Rabat and Domus Romana – Rabat played a major role in Malta’s history. The large provincial township was part of the Roman city of Melita. The town is a commercial centre and acts as a market for its large agricultural hinterland. It is also well established on the tourist map due to its archaeological and historical sites: The Domus Romana Museum, Catacombs, St. Paul’s Grotto, and the fine churches and monasteries
• 13. Bingemma
• 14. Mgarr – Mgarr is a typical rural village. It is surrounded by rich farmland. The area is ideal for country walks with several picturesque spots – Bingemma, Wardija, Fomm ir-Rih and Gnejna Bay. Mgarr’s parish church dedicated to St. Mary was built in 1912. Mgarr is also home to two of Malta’s oldest prehistoric sites: Ta’Hagrat and Skorba.  On the way to Golden Bay you will pay the Roman Baths.
• 15. Golden Bay – One of the island’s most beautiful sandy beaches. Together with its adjoining beach, Ghajn Tuffieha, it is unspoilt and secluded.  Well worth a visit.
• 16. St. Paul’s Bay – This is the quaint location of the original Fishing harbour known as “Il-Menqa” flanked to the left by Wignacourt Tower built by the Grandmaster the oldest standing watchtower of the period the Knights of St. John and to the right by St. Paul’s shipwreck Chapel revered as the spot where the locals lit a fire to warm and welcome St. Paul on his unforeseen arrival on land.
• 17. Bugibba Square – Bugibba and its neighbours Qawra and St. Paul’s Bay are Malta’s largest seaside resort towns. The coastline has been developed into a distinct resort with hotels and numerous holiday apartments. The water on both verges of the bay is not deep and is ideal for swimming off the rocks.
• 18. St. George’s Bay
• 19. St. Julian’s – St. Julian’s is now a major residential and tourist centre and home to some of Malta’s newest hotels. St. Julian’s merges with Paceville, Malta’s main nightlife center with clubs, casinos, restaurants, cafes, and bars.
• 20. Spinola Bay
• 21. Balluta Bay – A small bay between St. Julian’s and Sliema. Its shores are full of cafes, kiosks, and restaurants. The skyline is dominated by the Carmelite Church and the Victorian Balluta Building.

***Make sure when you pronounce the cities that you know that “M” is pronounced “Im” so that Mdina is pronounced “Im-dina”

View from Mdina

            Getting on the bus around 13:00 and the tour ending around 17:00 we only had time to hop off and see Mdina where we luckily got to go into a glass shop of beautifully blown glass. As we walked through the streets we walked through St. Paul’s Square, got to pet some horses drawing the carriages, and found ourselves with a view overlooking what seemed to be all of Malta.

            Once off the bus and no longer numb from the wind we took a bus again into Valletta and explored the gardens, but only after getting lost and falling upon the fountains in front of the Grandmaster’s Palace. These fountains were lit as music played and I felt I was standing in front of the European version of the Bellagio hotel fountains in Las Vegas, Nevada. These gardens were surrounded by sculptures and some Roman arches, which passing through gave you a view of Malta from atop the top of Valletta. Again, my breath was taken away as we sat and enjoyed the view of twinkling lights.

            The next day, our third in Malta, was what cemented Malta as my favorite place to be, away from home.  After another night out and meeting more Italians and an Australian, we woke up and caught a bus to the ferry to take us north to Gozo. Once in Gozo our plans were almost foiled, but luckily after running from begging taxi drivers we found out the bus we wanted to take to the other side of Gozo no longer ran. The only way to get to the Azure window was by taxi or in our case, a personal driver named Antonella Grech Borg. Walking into a tour shop we were set up with a driver and set out past a crumbling aquaduct and winding streets all the way to the other side of the island.  Here the road is too poor for cars to travel down and we were let out down the road. This was probably the best thing that could’ve happened to us.

            Leaving what would be the Malta suburbs where there is literally no one on the street we walked out into the opening which looked like Ireland with the expanses of lush green grass spotted with millions of little purple, but mainly yellow flowers. The sun beat down on our beaming faces and we both stopped, stunned, to close our eyes and smile. As we head down the dirt road the view only got more spectacular.  The farther we went the more of the ocean we could see. It was quiet except for us and it was as if we had fallen upon a hidden secret in nature. There were lizards sunbathing and as we turned back we saw the tiered cliffs that looked like steps down the hillside. About halfway down we saw an opening in the side walls and peered around to see a large limestone mine.  There sat one truck and blocks upon blocks of limestone which seems to have come from the surrounding walls. Now we felt as if we were in the Prince of Egypt. The mixed emotions of happiness and confusion left us blissful and giddy with excitement for the Window.

            Passing by the mine we looked over the side of the built up road to see a valley and decided to play with the acoustics. Yelling “MALTAAAAA” we heard it echo throughout this natural crescent. We had a good laugh and walked along the road as the walls from which it was carved seemed to get higher and higher. Next the road became supported by arches as it crossed over some standing water that had fallen down the valley. As we got to the end of the road it opened to the most beautiful sight I have ever seen: the seaside by the Azure Window. The sight of the water crashing against the cliffs and spewing up into the air mixed with the yellow flowers, the green cliffs, and the golden blanket cast over the entire countryside I began to tear up.  As Rachel went towards the Window I found myself following the coral, seashells, and glass that had been almost cemented into the dirt to the pools of water sitting amongst what I have only seen to be lava rock.  This charcoal porous rock held pools of standing water that reflected the sun’s rays and looked like silver. Jumping from rock to rock the song “If I Die Young” by the Perry Band came into my head and I found myself singing.

            “If I die young bury me in satin

            Lay me down on a bed of roses

            Sink me in the river at dawn

            Send me away with the words of a love song“

I got as close as I could to the ocean’s edge and sat with my feet dangling over some pools as I watched the sun set in the strongest, ephemeral bliss I’ve ever felt.  As I recount this, I can feel it again and cannot wait to take my family and my future family there. I would leave my mark on earth at this place.

            Getting picked up by our driver, we went by to Victoria (Rabat) to se St. George’s Basilica and the Citadella. In Victoria, we even had some pasties with one in particular being filled with cheese and apparently traditional to Malta.  Rachel, being more daring, tried a traditional honey ring that consisted of a ring-shaped piece of bread with inlets of a honey-like concoction. She best described it as a funny-tasting Fig Newton. And although we spoke many of times about trying the traditional meal: fenek or rabbit that is marinated overnight in wine and bay leaves and put into a stew or fried, we never quite got around to this meal.

            Taking a bus to the ferry, a ferry to Malta, a bus to Valletta, and a bus to St. Julian’s we grabbed another meal with George at a late 21:00. It seemed we finally got into the swing of eating late meals around 20:00/21:00 in Malta. Launching ourselves into salads, we had a very sweet waiter who seemed to have lost all of his friends as they departed from Malta after some time. My heart still goes out to him. That night we finally met up with our new Hungarian friends who we met outside our guesthouse the night before. Although we sadly did not make it to the pregame, we danced and partied the night away, but not without making a new Serbian friend as well.

La Casa Rocca Piccola

            Our final day in Malta and the weather has decided to take a turn for the worse. Going with our normal optimism we realize we’re not only in Europe, we’re in Malta. Therefore our plans to go to Southern Malta to see the Blue Grotto and Hagar Qim & Mnajdra Temples would have to be saved for a return trip and we would make other plans. So we picked up souvenirs and made our way back to Valletta to see the Casa Rocca Piccola, one of the Royal Knights’ and Admiral’s houses which is still inhabited and exhibited to the public, and above which sits a bomb shelter that when not used as such stored water that fell from the roof. From the 16^th century, the artifacts within this house left my jaw on the floor and I couldn’t help but wonder how someone could now live there, even if the recent inhabitant is 94 years old.

Lisa, George, and Rachel

            Returning to the hotel, as we decided to stay with George our last night, we looked out the window to see what looked like a hurricane.  Needless to say, we decided to eat dinner in our hotel that night before going out for our last night in Malta. Every night we had tried to make it to more than one bar/club, than more than 2, and finally on the last night although we told ourselves we would hit every single one in a line... we made it to three! Free drink tickets had been handed out on some nights, or two-for-one, but seeing as we did not finish dinner and make it out until 1:00 and the bars/clubs closed at 4:00, we decided to do it right ourselves. The first club we enjoyed the 2-for-1 pitcher deal and in this club ended up joining a congo line which I don’t think I’ve done in years. Then of course we made our way to our usual spot Hugo’s Passion to make some last memories. And finally we found our way to another club which had three different dancing rooms where in the very back room we found salsa. If you know me then you know I of course asked some guys to help warm up my salsa moves and then kept at it all night. Luckily I danced with a Turk who too was rusty, but sadly not rustier than me.

            Sleeping an hour and a half we quickly packed, jumped on the bus to Valletta, jumped on the bus to the airport, checked our passports, and then got to the terminal. Finally back in London, we of course missed our bus from Luton and  had to wait another hour and forty minutes to get back to London, only to be at Marble Arch and have to bus it back to Bloomsbury. Home, exhausted, and with a fever for the last twenty-four hours I collapsed with a smile on my face.  Malta, you took my heart away and I cannot wait to see you again.

Things I want to go back to see:

• ·      Catacombs in Mosta
• ·      Temples in Malta
• ·      Blue Grotto in Southern Malta
• ·      Blue Lagoon in Comino

Things I learned

1. ·      Spend more time in a country so that you can learn about the culture
2. ·      Take a tour in a country where you don’t speak the language so you actually know what you are looking at
3. ·      Take the time to talk to locals whether it is a personal driver or the guy at the souvenir shop
4. ·      Experiencing things at night, instead of having down time, are worth it
5. ·      Again, make sure to see friends in foreign countries as it really does make a difference
6. ·      Traveling when there are not as many tourists can really make the difference
7. ·      However, bad weather can keep you from seeing everything, but it’s worth it to experience things by yourself for what it is rather than more things in crowds
8. ·      Buses are the way to go, including tour buses
9. ·      Make sure to get two keys to your room

Countries visited: 3

Blog 3: Madrid, Spain

"Te Amo Abuela"

El Palacio Real

Two days of being almost comatose in bed and it was all worth it. Most probably wouldn’t describe Madrid as being a romantic city but I saw the magic.  The last day was one to remember forever.

Landing Friday morning at 00:15 we took a cab to our hostel, Cat’s Hostel, which stood with scaffolds and at night, appeared dark and dreary. We paid and settled in. Having met a woman on the plane who suggested a club we set out to find it.  Walking down prostitution filled streets, poorly lit, with the buildings slandered with graffiti, my hopes were beginning to be let down. I had thought Madrid to to be wonderful, not a crime filled ghetto.

Olivia, Emily Freeman, Rachel King, Lisa Inouye

Bar Co.

Running into two boys – one Canadian and one French – we were led with our new British friend Olivia, also staying at the hostel, to a bar called Bar Co. There in Madrid there is a cover fee even for bars, but to our surprise this is just to ensure you buy a drink. The cover fee presents you with a drink voucher, a nice surprise. As we realize our friend’s description as a “do whatever the fuck you want” club was true, we start to study the people ranging from teenagers to people possibly even in their forties. Hair length ranged from bald to long hair on men. And the dress was literally, whatever you found and put together. We decided to go with the funk and this two story bar turned into a night full of fun.

Waking up after just three hours of sleep we made our complimentary breakfast of dirt-tasting coffee (from the looks of my friends) and croissants. The 11:00 walking tour was cancelled due to a lack of participants, however, the guide was nice enough to map out our tour.  This is when I finally began to see Madrid for what it was.

Isabella, Lisa, Jake, Emily, Rachel

Plaza Mayor

The streets were bright with lights and for the first time in a month I felt the warmth of the sun on my skin; so much so I could strip down to my tank top. We walked down Calle Atocha to our first landmark: La Plaza Mayor. Here they hold all sorts of festivals and events and it’s one of the biggest tourist spots in Madrid. Passing through an arch between abounding buildings we walk into the open Plaza Mayor, which in the center stands a statue of Felipe III. Behind this statue is an old building called La Casa de la Panadería, the former headquarters of the bakers guild, on which Goya has left his artistic touch. The colors still stand vibrant and are illuminated by the beaming sunlight.  We walk past a middle-aged man sitting by a light post playing the accordian and behind him sits a couple wrapped in each other’s arms. Little did I know just how romantic a city Madrid is.

Emily, Rachel, & Lisa

El Palacio Real

We passed through another arch and stumbled upon El Mercado de San Miguel which was an immaculate, more modern market where unfortunately there was nothing to taste, but the choices were infinite.  In the center sits many tables and barstools for people to indulge in this decadent food being served in the many well-built, beautiful stands.  The food ranged from raw meats to fish to oysters to pastries to alcoholic drinks (all guilty pleasures). We continued on, not yet hungry, to La Catedral de la Almudena which stunned us in its grandeur and ornamentation. This cathedral sits next to Madrid’s most impressive landmark: El Palacio Real, the largest palace in Europe. Upon attempting to enter a tour at the palace was when I realized I’d been pick-pocketed. That means in the two countries I’ve been to I’m two for two (camera pick-pocketed in London).

Realizing my situation, I was with great friends in Madrid and this would probably be the only time I will have this opportunity, I shrugged it off and we continued on our free walking tour. Before the palace is La Plaza de Oriente. This Plaza spoiled us as I soon learned that all gardens and parks were well landscaped with patterned hedges and well groomed plants. We then took a peak at the Jardines (Gardens) de Sabatini, but realized from an aerial view that this garden would look the same at eye level so we decided to turn back and head east down El Calle Arenal which would lead us to La Plaza de Sol, equally as famous as La Plaza Mayor, but more touristy and less Spanish.

Rachel, Emily, & Lisa

La Chocolatería San Ginés

This street is much more narrow and gave us a Spanish feel as the cobbled streets stood between old beautiful buildings with each door complete with a balcony and beautiful sculptures framing the windows. We stopped into La Chocolatería San Ginés, recommended to me by friends, for their famous chocolate con churros. Notice I said chocolate with churros and not churros with chocolate… I think you get the picture.

Rachel, Lisa, & Emily

La Plaza de Sol

At La Plaza de Sol, claimed to be the “heart of Madrid,” we are greeted by two fountains, between which stands the statue across from the Capital building and Kilometer Zero.  This Plaza also holds the famous statue of Madrid: a bear climbing the madroño tree, which is the symbol of Madrid.  And lastly, behind this statue is the famous Tío Pepe sign. Apparently this neon sign is significant for the New Year’s celebrations held there. Personally, this plaza was my least favorite, but even served as a meeting point for us tourists. After tasting both a chicken and sea version of paella at a quaint restaurant at La Plaza Mayor, watching the tail end of a flamenco dance, and running into USC friends Jake Kennedy and Isabella Sa Fiere, we decided on a short two hour siesta before going to the two-free hours at El Museo del Prado which houses both Goya and Velazquez.

Ground Floor at Kapital

After running to exchange pounds for dollars and grabbing a quick Mediterranean dinner we decided on another hour siesta before meeting Jake and Isabella at a seven story club called Kapital. Lucky for us we ran into a girl in line who gave us a coupon for a 15 euro entrance that provided us with two drink vouchers.  Each floor contained different music and the bottom one had dancers and Jake and my personal favorite: a jet that blasted air from the ceiling. Almost crawling out of the club at 5:30 a.m. we made our way out of the club and decided to sleep into 11.

Lisa, Emily, & Rachel

El Retiro Park

We woke up and grabbed a late breakfast before walking through the beautiful El Retiro Park. Feeling the weight of the past thirty-six hours we decided to sit on a bench that faced a pond where groups of friends rowed around in the beautiful weather we were graced with.  After spending hours people watching we decided to walk back to La Plaza de Sol to find Kilometer 0, allowing us to pass by La Puerta de Alcala, El Palacio de Comunicaciones (a beautiful city halls), La Plaza de la Cibeles, and down through the Metropolis area.  Grabbing some food for energy, we decided to get one euro ham or cheese sandwiches in a baguette from the bargain stop El Museo del Jamon.

Our final siesta allowed us to wake up to the most blissful time of day when everything just seemed to be right. The sun fell on the buildings and seemed to cast a golden glow over the entire city. All the musicians seemed to be out at the same time: accordians and string quartets alike. As we strolled to La Plaza de España to see the Don Quixote, Sancho Panza, and Cervantes sculptures, we passed again by the Palace and beautiful fountain which allowed me to take the above picture.

Rachel, Emily, & Lisa

El Templo de Debod

Climbing a staircase of stairs, we then followed the throngs of people up some hill hoping to fall upon El Templo de Debod, known as a great place for watching the sunset. Boy was it ever. It seemed the entire city – local singles and couples with their dogs, tourists (friends, family, and schoolmates) – came to this spot to end the day in unison. From behind the temple, given to Spain from Egypt for saving one of their temples, we saw streams of light.  Following the light we were greeted with the most magnificent view of the Madrid skyline and we seemed to be watching from one of the highest points in Madrid.  The magnitude of V’s of birds that flew overhead made the experience magical. It was as if we were in Egypt and the birds were lotuses. The sun set and everyone proceeded on with their day. Tired of carbohydrates we settled on salads and then met my Sacramento friend Jaron Moler for a futbol match and found ourselves hanging out til 4 am. We slept for an hour and then slept on any surface we found as we made our way back to London. Even the dreary weather made us feel at home.

Things I learned in Madrid:

• 1.     When you book through hostel bookers you only pay the deposit.
• 2.     You have to pay a safety deposit for the hostel key
• 3.     You may get pick-pocketed so bring a credit card but keep it in the room
• 4.     Look for places with vegetables before it is too late
• 5.     Travel with friends who you want to share the experience of a lifetime with, it’ll make it the more worthwhile
• 6.     Your friends will also have your back
• 7.     Make sure to visit friends from home – they make the experience too and give you a taste of home and warmth
• 8.     Take your time, you’ll pay for it if you don’t sleep

Countries Visited: 2